Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Juntralai Moore of Orchard Park, NY, as a 2022 Gold Award Girl Scout. Juntralai is a member of Troop 31339.

Project: Serene Scenery Mural

The victims and children of abusive situations deserve a safe space where they not only feel comfortable, but also enjoy seeing it. Blank walls and dull colors create a space that feels unwelcoming and boring. My Gold Award addressed this issue by giving the Family Justice Center of Erie County a splash of color.

Nobody had considered that the blank walls that greeted you as a client should be more welcoming. Environment is important to feel safe and the space looked very much like a house-turned-office and not a place for victims and children to find solace. I addressed this problem by brainstorming ideas for the wall area I wanted to paint. I contacted the supervisor of the satellite office in town, as well as the program director and proposed my idea. In the following weeks, I painted a nature scene.

My audience gained a sense of comfort and appreciation of community art. They learned about the importance of beautiful spaces in places of safety. I learned that I am more capable than I thought I was when it comes to preparation and that I am good at decision making. This was my first time painting such a large painting and it went really well.

About the Girl Scout Gold Award

The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.” A Girl Scout’s project should be something that a girl can be passionate about—in thought, deed, and action that encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills. The project should also fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be on-going or sustainable. Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project. Completion of the Gold Award also qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities and she can enlist in the military at a higher starting pay grade.

The Girl Scout Gold Award, the most prestigious award in the world for girls, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers.

The Gold Award requires a Girl Scout to identify an issue and investigate it to understand what can be done to address the problem. The girl then forms a team to act as a support system, including a project advisor close to the issue who is not a troop leader or family member, while she leads the project. The Girl Scout creates a plan to ensure they know what steps they must tackle while working on the project. The Girl Scout submits a proposal for her project to her local Girl Scout council. After acceptance, the girl begins to work through the steps of their plan utilizing the assistance of her support team where necessary. Lastly, the project is used to educate and inspire others about the cause they are addressing.

For more information on the Gold Award, click here.